The festivities begin 7 p.m. Sunday, the first night of Chanukah, at Blackhawk Plaza. Rob Kessler, superintendent of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, will take center stage, lighting the congregation’s handcrafted mahogany menorah. Following that will be a party for the community at which several hundred guests are expected.
The next four nights will be low-keyed with congregants taking charge of the menorah lighting. Then on Friday, Dec. 14, Beth Chaim will host another party for the community following the menorah lighting. This will be a full-fledged interfaith event with religious leaders from most of the area’s other faiths in attendance. On Sunday, Dec. 16, the menorah will be moved to the Home for Jewish Parents for a final celebration.
“The most powerful way we can respond to our contemporary situation is by affirming our commitment to honor the traditions and faiths of others and inviting them to see and experience how we celebrate and what our spiritual practices are,” said Beth Chaim Rabbi Daniel Goldblatt. “In this struggle between radical fundamentalism and pluralism, so much of the fear is fueled by ignorance. “Chanukah is a holiday that celebrates religious freedom. In the post 9/11 reality we need to celebrate that freedom which is so precious to us, which we take for granted, by reaching out to other faiths in our community.”
That Beth Chaim has chosen to do this in such a public location is consistent with the very character of Chanukah, Goldblatt explained.
“Chanukah is the only Jewish holiday where part of the holiday is consciously sharing it with the world. We’re directed to light our menorahs in the window where people can see. Pirsum hanes — to make known the miracle of Chanukah.”
Given the events of Sept. 11, Goldblatt believes the message of Chanukah is one that everyone can find meaning in and appreciate.
“It’s a dark time for Americans,” he said. “Chanukah means rededication, to rekindle the spark in our souls that can’t be extinguished. Our inner life must shine against hate and intolerance. We want to share this light and bring light where there is darkness. We do it in our community by lighting the chanukiot in the most public place, Blackhawk Plaza.”
Superintendent Kessler’s presence on the first night, to which school principals and teachers have been invited, also celebrates the partnership between the San Ramon Valley Unified School District and the area’s religious communities.
“When 9/11 hit we immediately began reaching out to Muslim and Arab families to let them know that their children were going to be taken care of in the district,” said Kessler, reporting that no incidents of harassment have come to his attention.
The school district has about 20,000 students. Although approximately 80 percent of them are Caucasian, diversity and tolerance had to be a priority, Kessler said. “We’ve sent hundreds of teachers and administrators to [training sessions at] the Museum of Tolerance at the Weisenthal Center” in Los Angeles, “and are continuing to send staff members there.”
The district has been assessing the needs of minorities in the district, such as limiting Muslim students’ participation during Ramadan when they may be fasting, and setting an area aside where they can pray during the school day.
Another priority has been the needs of the district’s Jewish population.
Last year, members of Beth Chaim started working with the schools to educate teachers and administrators about the significance of the Jewish holidays.
“We set up a liaison committee with representatives at each school,” said congregant Gayle Israel, who chaired the project. One of the goals was that Jewish students not be penalized for missing school on religious holidays.
Although parents met with administrators and alerted them to the dates of the holidays, word didn’t always filter down to all the teachers and some students missed tests or were overloaded with work because of missing school on the High Holy Days, Israel said.
“Historically this has been a very Christian community,” she said, adding that some teachers didn’t understand that students are not just taking the day off but are in synagogue all day.
But new lines of communication have been established with Kessler at the helm.
“It’s important that it’s coming from my office,” said Kessler, adding that the district has long had a policy regarding religious holidays, but it hasn’t always been understood and followed. “What we did this year is that my office has taken a more assertive and proactive approach with all of our teachers. We’re being more explicit about what our expectations are.”
And this year at Blackhawk Plaza, the partnership between the schools and the community’s religious will be celebrated.
“On a larger level this recognizes how much schools are a part of the community,” said Kessler who, without treading on the guarantees of the First Amendment, would like to establish a relationship between the schools and the local ecumenical council. “We are all part of the same community.”